Joe’s is the gold standard of local BBQ. We have a ritual of bringing out-of-towners to experience the Z-Man sandwich that’s loaded with brisket, provolone, onion rings, and BBQ sauce. Both Joe’s thick classic and spicy sauces pair perfectly with expertly seasoned ribs and smoky burnt ends, and their fries may also be the best in town. There’s always going to be a wait at this functioning gas station/restaurant, so get in line and enjoy the convenience store-meets-busy-dining room vibes.

You’ll get a Styrofoam plate filled with their tender burnt ends and delightfully smoked ribs with a thick layer of BBQ sauce caramelized right on top. You can never have enough of LC’s sauce, so take that squeeze bottle, pile more on, and mop it all up with slices of Wonder Bread. Their homemade pork sausages are hands-down the best sausages in town, and you can really taste the smoke and spices and see the finely ground chunks of meat in the casing.

Q39 earns the BBQ bronze medal because it’s one of the few cloth-napkin places where you can still go feral on every last piece of meat. Get yourself an order of burnt ends or a platter where you can try some spare ribs, brisket, and chipotle sausage. Their sauces are standouts: pick between their original—sweet and apricot molasses-based—and their apple cider vinegar-based sauce for some tang. The grilled salmon salad is also excellent, as are their onion straws.

Buck Tui could only happen in a BBQ capital like Kansas City. The restaurant is owned by the Waldo Thai chef’s husband, and blends KC smoke with Thai flavors to create an unexpected but incredible combo. You get fusions of tangy Tiger Cry sauce with smoked brisket, the X-Man sandwich (which is a twist on Joe’s iconic Z-Man), and other tasty dishes like fried rice served in a giant pineapple.

Located 25 minutes north of downtown, Scott’s Kitchen is far enough out of Kansas City that there are other places for BBQ we’d send you to first. But its proximity to the airport means we’d be mad if you flew into KC and didn’t stop in for their BBQ and pulled rib tacos with Alabama white sauce. Their sampler platters can feed anywhere from two to six people and include charred burnt ends, ghost pepper sausage, and some of the best sides in KC.

F325 is one of the newer BBQ joints on the scene, but they’ve done their homework: their three-meat plate gives you tender burnt ends and some well-spiced homemade kielbasa that come with two sides for $26.50. If you’re less hungry, visit Cinder Block Brewery right next door—you can have food sent over from F325 if you start craving a brisket burger or their amazing fried pickles while sipping a beer or cider.

Slap’s, like Joe’s, is another KCK BBQ spot with long lines and counter service, but what makes it stand out are the sauces. Their spicy sauce is traditional BBQ with a kick, while the sweet one tastes overwhelmingly like honey, and we have indeed seen people drinking them like they’re cocktails. We prefer putting the sauces on the Mike Johnson sandwich, and white sauce on a pretzel bun, or dipping some hush puppies or fries in them instead. Get here when they open at 11am.

BB’s interior is a shrine to what KC does best: blues and BBQ. Take a seat inside and enjoy the murals and posters dedicated to blues musicians, or get a picnic table on their patio to listen to performers from around Kansas City. Order the BB’s King Combo: you get four ribs, sausage, and your choice of one meat—go with the beef brisket, and pay a little extra for the burnt ends. When it comes to sauce, their sweet heat peach tastes like a spicy, fruity jam and pairs well with the brisket.

Chef J is living a double life. It’s a top-tier BBQ joint by day, while at night, they close and serve as the eerie exit of one of America’s best haunted houses. The scariest thing about Chef J is how quickly they sell out: if you’re coming for lunch, show up at 11:30am. There’s a reason the meats here are so coveted—chefs carve perfectly rubbed briskets with an exceptional spice blend (we especially love their homemade sausages covered in mole sauce).

Opened in 1908, Arthur Bryant's is the oldest BBQ spot in town. It feels like everyone’s been here, whether that’s Jimmy Carter or our Aunt Gwenn who demanded a visit after hearing about it in the '80s. This smoked turkey may be the best around—get it in a sandwich or buy some by the pound to make your own for an upgraded workday lunch. Their tomato-forward original sauce has a similar taste and consistency to a thick Bloody Mary, while their saltier rich and spicy sauce packs some serious heat.

If you want to recreate the feeling of a summer BBQ, Char Bar is a great place to kick off the night with a group. Start with their cornbread jalapeño muffins with pepper jam, chive butter, and hot honey. Then, sample the best of the menu with The Whomp! Platter, which has a spread of meats—brisket, sausage, ham, ribs, burnt ends—and comes with two sides (go for the homemade potato salad and beans).

If you’re in the area visiting William Jewell College or Liberty’s historic downtown, it’d be a mistake not to stop at 3Halves. This brewery and BBQ joint is always packed with professors sitting with students or locals watching a game on TV while hosting a kid’s birthday party. Unlike many BBQ joints, 3Halves is somewhere you can linger—there’s not the usual rush or table hawking happening.

Night Goat is a Thursday-only BBQ speakeasy downstairs from Fox And Pearl (which you should also check out). Their limited menu constantly changes, and no matter what, they always find ways to serve BBQ that’s different from other spots around town. Just take the pork belly burnt ends that come on pork fat tortillas or jalapeño cheddar sausage with a spicy pickle mix.

Wolfepack used to operate out of Callsign Brewing in North Kansas City, and now has a brick and mortar in Columbus Park. The patio often has live music, and the meats are smoked daily by an expert pitmaster—the brisket is marbled enough to look like it could line a Renaissance palace in Florence. While the slightly bitter sauce is a change of pace from many sweeter molasses-based ones you'll find in KC, the meats and sides will wow you.